<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0217.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-329" title="IMG_0217" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0217-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Sujanalatha De Almeida was honored with the <em>Outstanding Educator of the Year </em>award last month by the California State Society of American Medical Technologists (CSSAMT), during the State Seminar held in Santa Ana, CA.

Though Mrs. De Almeida has won considerable industry recognition during her 32-years in the Medical Technology field, this award was especially dear to her.

As an instructor for both the <a title="Medical Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/">Clinical Medical Assisting </a>and <a title="Medical Office" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-office/">Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting </a>programs at SJVC Visalia for 22 years, De Almeida has devoted herself to preparing others for a life-long career helping others. “I am blessed to be able to touch the lives of my students,” she says. “This award is in recognition of these years of teaching and I am truly honored by this recognition.”

Nominees for this prestigious award had to meet strict criteria, including CSSAMT membership in good standing, regular attendance at both state and national industry seminars and letters of recommendation from at least two colleagues or supervisors. Although Mrs. De Almeida knew there was a possibility she would be nominated, the award still took her by surprise.

It was less of a surprise to her many students who, along with the roughly 4,000 medical assisting students whose lives she has touched, have benefitted from Mrs. De Almeida’s knowledge, professionalism and dedication to their own success in the medical field.

Prior to Mrs. De Almeida’s employment with <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">San Joaquin Valley College </a>she taught for ten years in Bangalore, India.